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Wed Sept 2, 2015 Track Night in America at The Ridge
This SCCA sponsored series is perfect for people who have fast cars but do not want to race or put roll cages in. Its seems pretty safe, as they don’t let Novices pass in the first 2 sessions, and only on the front straight for the last session, and only if the car ahead allows you by sticking the arm out the window to "point you by". For Intermediates, the rule for all 3 sessions is you can only pass when a driver "points" you by, and only on the 3 straights, between turns 5-6, 12-13, and 16-1.
My son Jeff has done these events a few times, so I wanted to try one with him. He has a 2015 STi and now runs in the Expert group, I used my wife’s 2011 BMW 328i auto and snuck into the Intermediate group. The BMW 328 auto with all season tires is not exactly a “track car”, but it does have the “M suspension” option. I used it for my first 2 sessions. While it has a manual mode and paddle shifters, the transmission computer had its own mind about when I should up shift sometimes, and would not let me downshift into 2nd at more than 4000 rpm. I also left TC on, as I didn’t want to trash my wife’s car. The car cornered extremely well, was very well balanced, and easy to correct if anything got a little bit out. It just lacked HP, and would not let me fully use the HP it did have. I did pass quite a few cars in my first 2 sessions. I got blacked flagged towards the end of the first session for having my finger tips out the window (holding on to the upper window sill to brace myself). Not allowed to have any body parts out the window.
Jeff and Mom's BMW
On my 2nd run, about ¾ through, it started limiting the HP quite noticeably. The water temp was a bit on the high side, so I’m guessing it limits HP to control engine temp. At this point, it was starting to not be fun.
My kind son insisted that I use his STi for the 3rd (last) run. And that was really a ton of fun.
My son's STi at a previous autocross event.
Jeff coming down the Ridge's corkscrew in 2nd Expert session.
Here is the video taken from the front bumber: Youtube Video Link
(There is some water on camera lens as it just started to rain, but it clears after about one lap.)
The first part of the vid is Jeff coming in from his session, and I needed to get into his car and get the helmet from him before I could start. This caused me to start at the back, and a bit late, but it actually made it more fun, as I picked my way towards the front.
My driving starts at 3:03, about 5 sec after a blue Sti in front of me and 15 sec after a blue after-market supercharged Mustang that were in front of me. I had to take it easy to start, as it was my 1st time on a track with a street car, my first time driving this STi aggressively, and the track was wet. My son kept saying “go do it, the STi loves the rain”. He was right.
First lap:
Its raining hard. I put my windows up (wrong!!)
At 5:09 I caught the pack at turn 11, the other STi and I start thru the pack,
After turn 12, we pass the supercharged Mustang.
Rain stops.
2nd lap:
Tailing a Shelby 500 Mustang (timid driver, not sure why in Intermediate?)
He lets us by after turn 5
Kind of poking along behind Smart Car, at 8:06 he lets us by after turn 12
As I cross the start, they signal to me to roll my window down. Which I did.
3rd lap:
8:47 we get past a Mini on the front straight
Other STi also gets past a loud, modified 3rd gen Mazda RX7 and at 9:20 the RX7 lets me by after turn 5
The other STi got past a 2nd gen Toyota MR2, I had to follow until 10:40, he let me by after turn 12
Again, the STi had got past the next car, a Hyundai Genesis coup
4th lap:
Past the Genesis at 11:13. Lost a lot of space to the STi, but caught up with the STi and the pack at 12:25
At 12:52, the STi points with his hand out his window, the sign to pass. It was not a legal pass zone, but I assumed he was having car problems,
so I passed him. (he was actually pointing to the black flag they were pointing at me because my driver’s side window had been closed on the 1st two laps.
I guess the start line didn't communicate back to the flag worker that all was well.)
5th lap:
The STi started hanging on my left on the front straight, like he wanted to pass me. He sure didn't seem like he was faster than me, but I figured he was pissed that I had passed him in an illegal spot, so I let him around me, giving up time to the BMW M series SUV and Camaro in front of me, which I really didn't want to do.
The BMW and STi get past the Camaro after turn 5, and I have to follow the Camaro.
At 15:19, at turn 11, as I am getting ready to go by the Camaro at turn 12, I see the black flag, and get off the track, thinking I am leaking oil or something.
As I leave the track, I see the STi got past the BMW.
They tell me (nicely) about the error of my ways, and I could have gone back out, but it was now late, and we had a long drive home, so I bagged it.
I certainly can see why my son loves these events. It's really fun, fairly safe, probably covered by most insurance companies as a training event, and its fun seeing some of the really fast cars he runs with in the Advanced Group. I highly recommend these events. Cost about $150 for 3 20 minute sessions.
Just keep your driver's side window down, in case you need to stick your whole arm out to point a car past, but don't put just your fingers out.
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Here is a vid Jeff shot when he drove at an event at PIR in the dark: Youtube Video Link
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